Cunningham at QB presents new problems for defense

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, December 7, 1997

Randall Cunningham was asked what he remembers about his last start at quarterback in the NFL, for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995.

"I got benched, I think," he said.

Cunningham had reason to think his NFL career was over at that point. He had started just four games for the Eagles that year, winning one and losing three. He was out of football in 1996.

But here is again, starting for the Minnesota Vikings Sunday when they face the 49ers at Candlestick. The Vikes signed Cunningham, 34, to be Brad Johnson's backup.

When Johnson experienced neck and ankle problems last Monday night against Green Bay (and subsequently was through for the year following neck surgery), in came Cunningham. It was his first turn at quarterback all season. He completed six of 12 passes for 72 yards. Earlier in the season the versatile Cunningham punted in place of the injured Mitch Berger, getting off a 65-yarder against Buffalo.

"I'm partly grieved because of Brad," Cunningham said.

"He's a good friend of mine now. For him to go down with an injury really bothers me. But on the other hand, I'm prepared and ready to go."

The 49ers are aware of Cunningham's athletic ability and his potential to hurt a defense with his scrambling.

"We can't let him make plays down field on scrambles," cornerback Marquez Pope said.

Coach Steve Mariucci said, "He's a different type of quarterback than Brad Johnson. To think of Randall Cunningham rushing for 1,000 yards in a season as a quarterback (actually, 942 in 1990), that's an added dimension he brings. He's fresh and healthy."

KEY MATCHUPS: 49ers LG Ray Brown vs. Vikings DT John Randle. Brown has his work cut out for him. Randle is an intense, frenetic player who paints his face with eyeblack on game days. He has 10-1/4 sacks. . . Vikings WR Cris Carter vs. 49ers LC Rod Woodson. Woodson has a slight shoulder injury, making his job more difficult. Carter has 80 receptions, eight of them for touchdowns. Woodson has three interceptions, all of them in the first New Orleans game. 49ers TE Greg Clark vs. Vikings OLB Dixon Edwards. Clark, backup to Brent Jones, will be used on running plays to beef up the blocking.

OF NOTE: The 49ers-Vikings series is tied at 16-16-1. . . . DT Dana Stubblefield remains the NFL leader in sacks with 15. . . . Minnesota's Eddie Murray has made 245 consecutive PATs, second-best in NFL history. . . . Carter needs four receptions to pass Charlie Joiner and move into seventh place on the NFL's career reception list. Carter has 747 catches.&lt;